A group of students in discussion and seated in front of a TV screen featuring a group assignment slide

National British Parliamentary Debating Competition (Year 9-13)

Name: National British Parliamentary Debating Competition (Year 9-13)
Start: 2026-10-24T08:30:00
End: 2026-10-24T20:00:00
Location: Edgbaston campus

This premier BP debating tournament brings together school teams nationwide to compete, sharpen critical thinking, and receive expert feedback.

Date
Saturday, 24 October 2026 (08:30 - 20:00) (UK)

Location
Great Hall, Aston Webb, Edgbaston campus, University of Birmingham
Contact
j.dyke@guild.bham.ac.uk

National British Parliamentary Debating Competition for Schools, Years 9–13

What to expect

This premier British Parliamentary (BP) debating tournament brings together school teams from across the country for a full day of competitive debating, critical thinking and expert feedback.

Programme:

Time	Activity	Location
08:30 – 09:30am	Registration	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building
9:30 – 9:45am	Welcome from Professor Deborah Longworth (Pro Vice Chancellor for Education)
09:45 – 10:15am	Briefings (Judge/Speaker)	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building
10:15 – 11:45am	Round 1	Seminar Rooms
11:45 – 13:15	Round 2	Seminar Rooms
13:15 – 14:00	Lunch (Cashless campus — you’re welcome to bring lunch or purchase on campus)	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building
14:00 – 15:30	Round 3	Seminar Rooms
15:30 – 17:00	Round 4	Seminar Rooms
17:00 – 17:45	Dinner Break	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building
17:45 – 18:00	Break Announcement	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building
18:00 – 19:40	Finals (4 Concurrent Tracks)	Great Hall & Lecture Theatres
19:40 – 20:00	Awards Ceremony & Departure	Great Hall, Aston Webb Building

Who is this for?

The competition is open to school students in Years 9–13 from across the UK.

Each institution can request team places through the expression of interest form, with 2 students per team. Places are subject to confirmation by the organisers.

Registration closes: Friday, 16 October 2026.

During this session, you will…

Take part in four British Parliamentary debating rounds.
Deliver structured speeches and develop persuasive arguments under time pressure.
Work collaboratively with a two-person team.
Receive feedback from experienced adjudicators to help refine your debating skills.
Progress to the finals if your team qualifies.
Attend the awards ceremony and celebrate the achievements of participating teams.

The day will also include welcome remarks, judge and speaker briefings, lunch and dinner breaks, and dedicated competition support from the event staff.